Interlocking plug-in connector part for an electrical plug-in connector

ABSTRACT

An interlocking plug-in connector put for an electrical plug-in connector includes a housing for receiving electrical contacts and a bayonet ring. The bayonet ring is longitudinally displaceable relative to the housing and is movable from an assembled position in which a mounting end of the bayonet ring is arranged on the plane of a mounting surface of the housing or on a plane which is staggered in the direction of connection in relation to the mounting surface of the housing. The bayonet ring tray be longitudinally displaced from the assembled position to a connecting position such that an insertion end of the bayonet ring is positioned in arranged within a region of the mounting surface of the housing. In the insertion position, the bayonet ring is supported on a stop associated with the housing to push the housing into a guide bushing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to a lockable plug-in connection part for anelectric plug-in connector, with a housing that contains electriccontact elements, and with a bayonet ring for locking the plug-inconnection part on a guide sleeve assigned to the plug-in connector,wherein the plug-in connection part is inserted into one end of theguide sleeve in order to produce the electric plug-in connector, and acounterpiece that carries complementary contact elements is arranged onthe opposite end of the guide sleeve.

BACKGROUND ART

A lockable plug connection part of this type is, for example, requiredfor producing an electric plug-in connector that serves for connectingtransmission control systems in motor vehicles. In this case, the socketplug-in used is realized in the form of a lockable plug-in connectionpart. In such transmission control systems, an electrical-equipmentboard is arranged within the transmission housing which carries theelectrical, mechanical and/or hydraulic control means usually providedfor such transmission control systems, as well as control electronicsallocated functionally for these control means. In order to contact theelectrical-equipment board, a plug-in part that contains electricalcontact pins is assigned to the electrical-equipment board. Electricalcontact between the plug-in part or its plug-in contacts and a plug-insocket that contains electrical contact sockets is realized by means ofa guide sleeve that extends through an assembly opening of thetransmission wall and is connected to the plug-in part with its innerend region, wherein the plug-in socket is inserted into the guide sleevethat is open on the outer side. For this purpose, a socket housing whichcarries the contact sockets as well as a bayonet ring are assigned tothe plug-in socket, and the bayonet ring is realized such that it locksthe plug-in socket onto the guide sleeve. Since the electric plug-incontacts are arranged on the electrical-equipment board within thetransmission housing, the socket housing needs to be long enough so thatit can be inserted sufficiently far into the guide sleeve in order toproduce the desired electrical contacts. The bayonet ring is arranged onthe end of the socket housing on the cable outlet side. Such a lockableplug-in socket is known from German Utility Model 297 21 908.1.

In order to produce an electrical contact between the plug-in contactsand the contact sockets contained in the socket housing, the sockethousing or the entire plug-in socket, respectively, is realized with acorresponding length. Due to the bayonet locking of the plug-in socketon the guide sleeve, it is proposed to merely realize the end of thesocket housing on the cable outlet side in an annular fashion so as toreduce the material requirement, with the bayonet ring being rotatablyheld on this annular end section. The required length of the sockethousing as well as the annular design of this socket housing on thecable outlet side, makes it impossible to realize an automatic mountingof the contact sockets on the socket housing. This type of mounting iscarried out from the cable outlet side of the socket housing. Anautomated mounting is only possible if the socket housing does notexceed a certain length such that the contact sockets to be mountedwhich are carried by the grippers of the automated mounting machine canbe mounted at their intended position in socket receptacles of thesocket housing. In addition, an automated mounting can only be carriedout if the mounting surface of the socket housing on the cable outletside is flat and there are no edges or webs, as the annular end sectionprovided for holding the bayonet ring sometimes protrudes from saidmounting surface. Consequently, contact sockets can only be mountednaturally onto this previously known plug-in socket or its sockethousing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based the previously discussed state of the art, the invention aims topropose a lockable plug-in connection part for an electric plug-inconnector which is not only suitable for contacting a counterpiece at acertain insertion depth, but on which electrical contact elements to beinserted into the plug-in connection part can also be mounted in anautomated fashion.

According to the invention, this objective is attained due to the factthat the bayonet ring can be longitudinally displaced relative to thehousing and the end of the bayonet ring on the cable outlet side is, ina mounting position of the plug-in connection part for mounting contactelements on the housing, situated in the plane of the end of the housingon the cable outlet side or in a plane which, relative to the plane ofthe end of the housing on the cable outlet side, is offset in theinsertion direction, and due to the fact that the end of the bayonetring on the insertion side is situated in an inserting position that isspaced apart from the mounting position, namely within the region of theend section of the housing on the cable outlet side, with the bayonetring being supported in the insertion direction by an insertion limitstop that is assigned to the housing in this particular position inorder to insert the housing into the guide sleeve.

The plug-in connection part according to the invention, e.g., a plug-insocket, is characterized by a bayonet ring that is arranged such that itcan be longitudinally displaced relative to the socket housing. In thisrespect, it is proposed that the bayonet ring is arranged relative tothe socket housing such that the plane of the end of the socket housingat the cable outlet side represents the outer limit of the plug-insocket in one position of the bayonet ring-namely the mounting position.This end can be used as the mounting surface for the automated mountingof electrical contact sockets onto the socket housing. Since the bayonetring can be longitudinally displaced relative to the socket housing, thebayonet ring can be displaced into a locking or inserting position whichis spaced at a distance from the aforementioned mounting position. Thisposition is characterized by the fact that the front end of the bayonetring or the end of the bayonet ring on the insertion side is situatedwithin the region of the rear end section of the socket housing, whereinthe bayonet ring is supported by an insertion limit stop assigned to thesocket housing in this position. Consequently, the socket housing can bepulled out of the bayonet ring in a telescoping fashion in the insertiondirection. Due to this telescoping function, the socket housing merelyneeds to have a length that suffices for receiving the electricalcontact sockets, wherein the socket housing, and in particular, thebayonet ring arranged on the end of the socket housing on the cableoutlet side in the insertion position, contributes to achieving therequired insertion depth. Such a plug-in socket is suitable for allelectric plug-in connectors, the plug-in sockets of which need to extendto a certain insertion depth in order to produce an electricalconnection with the plug-in contacts assigned to the plug-in part. Aplug-in socket of this type is particularly suitable for an electricplug-in connector that serves for producing an electrical contact withan electrical-equipment board arranged underneath a wall, in particular,a transmission housing wall.

It is practical to fix the bayonet ring in its mounting positionrelative to the housing because this presents an unintentionaldisplacement of the bayonet ring during an automated mounting process.This is preferably realized by arranging several snap-in beads aroundthe circumference of the bayonet ring, with said snap-in beads engaginginto snap-in depressions assigned to the housing and situated on theouter side of the insertion limit stop.

In one embodiment, insertion tabs which protrude from the housing areprovided as the insertion limit stop, with flange sections assigned tothe bayonet ring being supported by the surfaces of the insertion tabswhich point toward the cable outlet of the housing in the insertedposition of the bayonet ring. It is practical to guide the insertiontabs in a guide groove that preferably consists of two webs and that isassigned to the inner side of the bayonet ring, with this guide groovebeing realized such that the insertion tabs have emerged from the guidegroove in the inserted position of the bayonet ring and the bayonet ringcan only be turned relative to the housing in its inserted position. Inorder to limit the inserted position of the bayonet ring, a limitingflange is assigned to the end of the housing. In order to prevent thebayonet ring from unintentionally sliding back from its insertedposition, one embodiment proposes that springable locking tabs whichpoint toward the cable outlet side of the housing are assigned to thehousing, with the ends of these locking tabs being supported by theinsertion flange of the bayonet ring once the bayonet ring istransferred from its mounting position into its inserted position. Arenewed displacement of the bayonet ring from its inserted position intoits mounting position is not necessary because the mounting position isonly required for mounting electrical contact elements on the housing.

The advantages of the invention are described on the example of aplug-in socket; however, the plug-in connection part according to theinvention may be analogously realized in the form of a plug-in part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional advantages and developments of the invention are disclosed inthe remaining subordinate claims and described below with reference toone preferred embodiment. Shown are:

FIG. 1, a schematic representation of a plug-in socket for an electricplug-in connector in the form of an exploded view;

FIG. 2, a perspective view of the plug-in socket according to FIG. 1,the bayonet ring of which is situated in its mounting position;

FIG. 3, a cross section through the plug-in socket according to FIG. 2along the line A-B, and

FIG. 4, a section which corresponds to the cross section shown in FIG. 3through the plug-in socket according to FIG. 2, with the bayonet ringbeing situated in its inserted position.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The plug-in socket 1 shown FIG. 1 essentially consists of a sockethousing 2, into which a locking disk 3 can be radially inserted in orderto lock electrical contact sockets in position, and a bayonet ring 4.The socket housing 2 is illustrated in its empty state, i.e., a state inwhich it does not contain electrical contact sockets. A ring seal 5 thatis inserted into the groove identified by the reference symbol 6 inorder to seal the socket housing 2 relative to a guide sleeve that isnot illustrated in detail is arranged in the lower section of the sockethousing 2 on the insertion side.

The socket housing 2 is essentially composed of cylindrical sections andlimited by a limiting flange 7 on the cable outlet side. Socketreceptacles 9 are arranged in the surface 8 of the socket housing 2 onthe cable outlet side. The surface 8 represents the mounting surface, onwhich electrical contact sockets are automatically mounted on the socketreceptacles 9, and on the rear side of which corresponding electricalcables are automatically mounted. Elastic locking tabs 10 which point tothe limiting flange 7 are integrally formed on the socket housing 2 acertain distance underneath the limiting flange 7. The locking tabs 10are able to yield within the region of their protruding sections. Threelocking tabs 10 of this type are circumferentially arranged on thesocket housing 2. Insertion tabs 11 which protrude radially from theouter surface of the socket housing 2 are respectively arranged betweentwo locking tabs 10, wherein the surfaces of said insertion tabs whichpoint toward the limiting flange 7 and consequently to the end of thesocket housing 2 on the cable outlet side are realized in the form offlat pressure surfaces 12. A snap-in depression 13 is arranged in theradially outward directed surface of each insertion tab 11.

The bayonet ring 4 is realized in an annular fashion, with an insertionflange 14 being arranged within the region of its front end on theinsertion side. The clear width of the opening of the bayonet ring 4within the region of the insertion flange 14 is so large that thecylindrical socket housing 2 can be inserted until the underside of thelimiting flange 7 rests on the upper side of the insertion flange 14. Onits inner side, the bayonet ring 4 contains guides 16 formed by two webs15, 15′ in positions that are complementary to those of the insertiontabs 11. In this case, the distance between the webs 15, 15′ is so largethat an insertion tab 11 can be received.

An inwardly protruding snap-in bead 17, by means of which the bayonetring 4 is fixed in its mounting position relative to the socket housing2 due to the engagement into the snap-in depression 13, is situated inthe upper section of a guide 16. The axial length of the guide 16 andthe two webs 15, 15′, respectively, is so large that a sufficientdistance for turning the limiting flange 17 on the insertion flangesurface remains between the lower edges of the webs 15, 15′ and theupper side of the insertion flange 14. The insertion flange 14 isinterrupted within the region situated underneath a guide 16 such thatthe insertion tabs 11 in the guides 16 can be guided up to a positionwith their pressure surface 12 underneath the underside of the insertionflange 14.

The description of this arrangement makes it clear that the bayonet ring4 is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction in its mountingposition and prevented from carrying out a rotational movement due tothe position of the insertion tabs 11 in the guides 16. This arrangementof the plug-in socket 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2—the bayonet ring 4 issituated in its mounting position relative to the socket housing 2 withthe end of the bayonet ring 4 on the cable outlet side situated in theplane of the surface 8. This illustration makes it clear that a planemounting surface is created such that electrical contact sockets can beautomatically mounted on the socket housing 2.

The engagement of a snap-in bead 7 in the snap-in depression 13 of aninsertion tab 11 is shown in the cross section of the bayonet ring 4which is situated in its inserted position in FIG. 3. After theautomated mounting of the electrical contact sockets onto the sockethousing 2, the socket housing 2 is pushed out of the bayonet ring 4 in atelescoping fashion as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 3 until theinsertion flange 14 of the bayonet ring 4 rests against the limitingflange 7 of the socket housing 2. This position—the inserted position—isshown in FIG. 4 in the form of a cross section that corresponds to thatshown in FIG. 3. While the socket housing 2 is pushed out of the bayonetring 4, the insertion flange 14 is also guided over the locking tabs 10which protrude in a springing fashion as soon as the insertion flange 14has moved over said locking tabs, and thus prevents the bayonet ring 4from sliding back from its position shown in FIG. 4. Once the bayonetring 4 is pushed into the position shown in FIG. 4, it is turnedrelative to the socket housing 2 such that the insertion flanges 14interrupted within the region of the guides 16 are moved over theinsertion tabs 11 that are now situated on the bottom. The plug-insocket 1 can subsequently be inserted into a guide sleeve that is notillustrated in detail so as to contact electric plug-in contactssituated on the other end of the guide sleeve. During this insertionprocess, the required insertion pressure is exerted upon the sockethousing 2 by the insertion flanges 14 which are supported on the upperside of the insertion tabs 11. In order to lock the plug-in socket 1 inposition, the free end section of the guide sleeve engages into alocking groove 18 of the bayonet ring 4 such that the bayonet ring 4 islocked on the guide sleeve. The locking groove required for this purposeis preferably realized such that the socket housing 2 is additionallyinserted into the guide sleeve during this interlocking process.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Plug-in socket

2 Socket housing

3 Locking disk

4 Bayonet ring

5 Ring seal

6 Groove

7 Limiting flange

8 Surface on the cable outlet side

9 Socket receptacle

10 Locking tab

11 Insertion tab

12 Pressure surface

13 Snap-in depression

14 Insertion flange

15, 15′ Web

16 Guide

17 Snap-in bead

18 Locking groove

What is claimed is:
 1. A plug-in socket for an electronic plug-inconnector, the plug-in socket comprising: a housing having a mountingsurface with socket receptacles for receiving electrical contactelements, the housing having an insertion limit stop; a bayonet ringcircumferentially extending around the housing for locking the housingto a first end of a guide sleeve, the bayonet ring having a mounting endand an inserting end, the inserting end having an insertion means; and aplug-in part arranged on the opposite end of the guide sleeve, theplug-in part carrying complimentary plug-in part contact elements;wherein the bayonet ring is longitudinally displaceable relative to thehousing between a mounting position for enabling electrical contactelements to be mounted through the socket receptacles of the mountingsurface of the housing and an inserting position for enabling mountedelectrical contact elements to engage with the complementary plug-inpart contact elements, wherein in the mounting position the mounting endof the bayonet ring is arranged in the plane of the mounting surface ofthe housing, wherein in the inserting position the insertion end of thebayonet ring is arranged within a region of the mounting surface of thehousing and the insertion means of the inserting end of the bayonet ringengages with the insertion limit stop of the housing in order to insertthe housing into the guide sleeve in response to an insertion forceapplied to the bayonet ring; wherein the bayonet ring includes a snap-inconnection cooperating with the housing for holding the bayonet ring inthe mounting position while electrical contact elements are mountedthrough the socket receptacles of the mounting surface of the housing,wherein the snap-in connection includes snap-in beads of the bayonetring which engage into snap-in depressions of the insertion limit stopof the housing.
 2. A plug-in socket for an electronic plug-in connector,the plug-in socket comprising: a housing having a mounting surface withsocket receptacles for receiving electrical contact elements, thehousing having an insertion limit stop; a bayonet ring circumferentiallyextending around the housing for locking the housing to a first end of aguide sleeve, the bayonet ring having a mounting end and an insertingend, the inserting end having an insertion means; and a plug-in partarranged on the opposite end of the guide sleeve, the plug-in partcarrying complimentary plug-in part contact elements; wherein thebayonet ring is longitudinally displaceable relative to the housingbetween a mounting position for enabling electrical contact elements tobe mounted through the socket receptacles of the mounting surface of thehousing and an inserting position for enabling mounted electricalcontact elements to engage with the complementary plug-in part contactelements, wherein in the mounting position the mounting end of thebayonet ring is arranged in the plane of the mounting surface of thehousing, wherein in the inserting position the insertion end of thebayonet ring is arranged within a region of the mounting surface of thehousing and the insertion means of the inserting end of the bayonet ringengages with the insertion limit stop of the housing in order to insertthe housing into the guide sleeve in response to an insertion forceapplied to the bayonet ring; wherein the insertion limit stop of thehousing includes insertion tabs protruding radially from the housing,wherein the insertion means of the bayonet ring is supported on surfacesof the insertion tabs pointing toward the mounting surface of thehousing when the bayonet ring is in the inserting position.
 3. Theplug-in socket of claim 2 wherein: the insertion tabs are respectivelyaccommodated in guides arranged on the bayonet ring, the guides eachincluding two guide webs such that the bayonet ring is rotatably heldrelative to the housing when the bayonet ring is in the mountingposition, wherein the guides end in front of the insertion means of thebayonet ring such that the bayonet ring is rotatable relative to thehousing when the bayonet ring is in the inserting position.